..::Football IV::..

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Leicester 0-0 Southampton: Austin miss costs visitors in stalemate

Southampton made it six games unbeaten in all competitions as they held Premier League champions Leicester City to a 0-0 draw at the King Power Stadium, though Charlie Austin missed a golden chance for the visitors in the second half.

After an indifferent start to the season, Claude Puel's side have been in terrific form of late and frustrated Leicester for large spells of Sunday's clash, with Austin hitting the woodwork early on.Claudio Ranieri's men did look dangerous in parts, with Jamie Vardy guilty of squandering a gilt-edged chance before half-time.

Austin was showed similar profligacy with a misjudged chip midway through a second half of few clear-cut chances, with substitute Shinji Okazaki also flashing a header wide at the other end.

However, despite late chances for James Ward-Prowse and Leonardo Ulloa, neither side could find a winner as they settled for a share of the spoils.

On the back of their 3-0 win over West Ham last time out, Southampton started brightly, with in-form Austin – looking to impress interim England manager Gareth Southgate, who was watching from the stands – testing Kasper Schmeichel with a powerful header.

Austin was causing havoc for Leicester's defence and he went agonisingly close to putting Southampton ahead shortly after, hitting the left-hand upright with a superb half-volley from an acute angle.

But it was Leicester who should have had the lead on the half-hour mark, Vardy capitalising on Virgil van Dijk's underhit back-pass. The England forward skipped past Fraser Forster, but Oriol Romeu somehow got back to prevent Vardy, and then Islam Slimani, from putting the hosts in front.

Romeu very nearly cost his side moments later though, the Spaniard conceding possession on the edge of Southampton's area, but Jose Fonte managed to make a timely intervention.

The second half started slowly, with Southampton eventually turning on the style with a fantastic passing move, but Nathan Redmond could only direct a tame attempt straight at Schmeichel.

Austin should have had his sixth goal in five matches in all competitions on the hour-mark when he was teed up by Van Dijk, but the former Burnley striker elected to try and chip Schmeichel rather than go for power, allowing Leicester's goalkeeper to make a comfortable save.

Ranieri's side reacted well, Drinkwater hitting the side-netting before stinging the hands of Forster with a rasping shot from 30 yards out.Okazaki was introduced with just over 20 minutes remaining, and almost had an immediate impact when he connected with a cross from the left, but his header sailed wide.

Both sides could have won it late on, but Ward-Prowse and Ulloa failed to direct their respective efforts on target as it finished all-square.

 

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Real Madrid 1-1 Eibar: Blancos held for another draw as visitors stand firm

Real Madrid failed to ease the pressure on coach Zinedine Zidane as Eibar held them to their fourth successive stalemate across all competitions with a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.

Zidane's men were frustrated by Villarreal, Las Palmas and Borussia Dortmund in their previous three matches, but were expected to coast to victory against the Basque outfit.

However, the dogged visitors had other ideas and emerged with a thoroughly deserved share of the spoils.

The hosts endured a troubling start as Fran Rico gave Eibar the lead after just six minutes, but the ever-reliable combination of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale ensured Madrid were not behind for long – the Welshman equalising in the 18th minute.

Madrid unsurprisingly dominated possession and Alvaro Morata's half-time introduction made a real difference to their energy in attack, with Bale striking the post on the hour mark.Eibar proved resilient opponents and dug deep in the latter stages, though, ultimately holding off the inevitable late onslaught to claim a point.

Madrid enjoyed a lot of the ball during the early exchanges and Bale went particularly close to breaking the deadlock with a 20-yard drive which found the side netting.

Eibar took their chance when it came as Ander Capa delivered a brilliant cross from the right flank and Rico was there to nod beyond Keylor Navas after Pepe – in for the rested Sergio Ramos – missed his header.

But Eibar were always likely to struggle keeping the home side's talented attack at bay and the hosts drew level in the 17th minute – Ronaldo clipping a fine cross towards the back post from the left for Bale to head past the helpless Asier Riesgo.

Madrid became increasingly dominant as the first half progressed and Karim Benzema should have steered home from six yards after half an hour, but he turned Danilo's cutback wide of the left-hand post.

That proved to be Benzema's only real contribution as he was replaced by Morata at the break and the Spaniard looked hungry, helping craft a great chance in the 53rd minute.Morata headed Bale's cross into the danger zone and found Isco, who saw his shot blocked and then Ronaldo sliced the rebound over from 12 yards.

The dangerous Bale was at the centre of things again shortly after, as he darted in front of Antonio Luna on the edge of the box to meet Mateo Kovacic's lofted pass with a powerful header which came back off the right-hand post.

Madrid poured men forward in desperation as the full-time whistle approached, but Mauro dos Santos' accidental header straight at his own goalkeeper from a corner in the 86th minute was as close as they came, with Eibar holding on for a famous point.

 

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Not good enough - No Modric and no ideas as Madrid slip up again

It is quite simply not good enough. For the first time since 2006, Real Madrid have been held to four draws in a row and, without the injured Luka Modric against Eibar on Sunday, there was a total lack of ideas.

Zinedine Zidane's side won their first five fixtures in 2016-17, but came into this match looking to end a run of three straight draws against Villarreal, Las Palmas and Borussia Dortmund.

Villarreal finished fourth in La Liga last season, while Las Palmas have been a revelation so far this term and were playing at home and BVB are always a strong side in the Champions League - especially at the Signal Iduna Park.

So there was perhaps no disgrace in any of those results, even if Madrid should have done better. At home to Eibar, however, there is simply no excuse for the failure to claim all three points.

Yes, Madrid have rarely looked the same side in the absence of Casemiro through injury, failing to win a game since his injury away to Espanyol. The Brazilian brings balance and defensive stability to Madrid's midfield, but at home to Eibar, the problems were further forward.

Even though James Rodriguez picked up a knock before the game and was unable to start, and Luka Modric is sidelined with a knee problem and has already undergone surgery, Madrid should still have had more than enough to beat a team like Eibar.

They were not helped by a mix-up in defence which allowed Fran Rico to head home and give the Basques the lead. But, once they had equalised with a Gareth Bale header at the other end from a Cristiano Ronaldo cross, it should have been straightforward for the European champions.

Without Modric, though, there was a real lack of imagination. Crosses were lumped into the box, while Madrid sought to attack on the break and, when chances came, they were duly squandered.

Ronaldo did well to set up Bale for the Madrid goal, but the Portuguese was guilty of several misses and still seems out of sorts since his return from the injury he suffered in the final of Euro 2016.

For his part, Alvaro Morata did improve Real as he replaced Karim Benzema at the break, but the Spain striker saw a strike correctly ruled out for offside and was also booked for diving in the area.

Isco, meanwhile, continually frustrated the home fans as he lost the ball time and again, slowing down Madrid's play and rarely showing his skills before being substituted with 18 minutes left.

With Ronaldo, Bale, Benzema, Morata, Isco and Marco Asensio all involved in the game, this ought to have been three points in the bag for Madrid, but with Casemiro out and Modric now sidelined, the midfield is proving a real problem for Zidane - and if it is not sorted soon, Los Blancos will fall off the pace in La Liga once again.

 

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United could have won 6-0 - Mourinho

"Best United performance all season," he said.
"It was a much better performance than against Leicester. It was the best performance by far, six, seven, eight great chances to win the game. This United team is one that wants to score more goals and be completely in control."

Murinho being Murinho

 

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Burnley 0-1 Arsenal: Gunners grab late victory on Wenger anniversary

Laurent Koscielny ensured Arsene Wenger marked his 20-year anniversary at Arsenal with a victory as he scored a controversial late winner to beat Burnley 1-0 at Turf Moor.

A resilient display from Burnley was undone in the final minute of stoppage time as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Koscielny fumbled the ball over the line – despite the latter appearing to handle while also being in an offside position.

Chances were at a premium on Sunday, a day after Wenger brought up his two-decade landmark in the Gunners' hotseat, with Alexis Sanchez wasting the visitors' best chances.Sanchez and Walcott dragged early chances wide in a cagey first half and Burnley should have gone in ahead, but Sam Vokes headed a glorious opening wide.

Another Sanchez effort clipped the Burnley post, before Michael Keane was denied by the crossbar at the other end as both sides pushed for victory.

But Arsenal snatched victory as Burnley appeals against Koscielny were waved away, the France international claiming all three points with his first goal of the season.Wenger's side dominated possession in the early exchanges, but were limited to a low Sanchez effort that was deflected wide of Tom Heaton's goal.

Alex Iwobi and Sanchez continued to try to open up a gap in the Burnley defence as the Gunners enjoyed plenty of the ball, the latter able to play Theo Walcott in only for the England international to blaze well wide.

Burnley were restricted to a string of long balls towards lone striker Vokes, the Wales international marshalled well by Arsenal defensive duo Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny.

It was the visitors who should have led at the break, though, as Matthew Lowton's 38th-minute chipped pass found Vokes on the penalty spot.With Arsenal's defenders slow in coming out the striker was left onside and unmarked, but inexplicably he headed wide with only Petr Cech to beat.

The hosts were almost made to rue that miss in the opening minutes of the second half as Walcott and Hector Bellerin bundled the ball to Sanchez. The Chilean showed quick feet to create an opening only for Heaton to make a sharp save at point-blank range.As the Arsenal pressure grew Burnley's defending became desperate, the Clarets needing a superb block from Keane to keep out Mesut Ozil's goal-bound drive.

Despite all Arsenal's dominance it was again Burnley who went close to breaking the deadlock as Stephen Ward's cross on the hour was met by Gudmundsson, forcing Cech to push it wide at full stretch.Sanchez's efforts to find the back of the net were getting closer as he hit the post after 73 minutes, the 27-year-old executing a superb volley that clipped the upright after Burnley had failed to clear.

The woodwork at the other end was rattling moments later as Keane rose to meet a left-wing corner, buy the central defender's thumping header thudded into the crossbar.Walcott wasted what looked set to be Arsenal's final chance in the dying seconds, but it fell to Koscielny to provide decisive moment.

Sanchez's cross was met by Oxlade-Chamberlain, who appeared to hook the ball into the arm of an offside Koscielny and Heaton could nothing to keep the ball out.

 

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AC Milan 4-3 Sassuolo: Paletta seals comeback as hosts win thriller

Gabriel Paletta grabbed the winner as AC Milan produced a sensational fightback to win a barmy Serie A encounter 4-3 against Sassuolo at San Siro on Sunday.

The seven-time European champions had initially led through Giacomo Bonaventura's strike, but, after conceding almost immediately to Matteo Politano, their defence fell to pieces.Sassuolo added further goals in quick succession in the second half, with Francesco Acerbi and Lorenzo Pellegrini stunning the home crowd into silence.

However, Carlos Bacca's penalty and then Manuel Locatelli's glorious effort brought Milan back level, before Paletta's header completed an incredible comeback.The visitors had been in Europa League action on Thursday - travelling to Belgium to face Genk - and it told in the closing stages as Vincenzo Montella's men took control.

Milan started brightly when, in the ninth minute, their first shot led to the opener.Bonaventura skipped clear of the midfield to strike at goal, but his effort deflected off the desperate lunge of former Rossoneri defender Acerbi and flew past Andrea Consigli.

However, a home defence missing the injured Alessio Romagnoli quickly granted Sassuolo a reprieve.Ignazio Abate gifted the ball to Politano, who ran through the gaping hole in Milan's back line to coolly finish beyond the stranded Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Sassuolo then had Claud Adjapong's goal ruled out for handball, but kept pushing, with Pellegrini testing Donnarumma from the edge of the area, before the Milan goalkeeper was fortunate to escape punishment as he appeared to foul Politano when the goalscorer stole possession.

Carlos Bacca sought to muster a response to the away side's dominance, but having picked out Mattia de Sciglio on the left, he swiped wildly at the return cross and missed the target.

Bonaventura flashed wide shortly after half-time, while Consigli saved when Suso dipped inside to shoot and Juraj Kucka nodded over.But, as in the first half, Milan's momentum soon slowed and Sassuolo again took advantage.

Acerbi met Pellegrini's deep cross to volley the visitors into the lead, and worse was to follow for Montella.Pellegrini grabbed a goal himself just two minutes later, wonderfully dancing onto his left foot to curl into the far corner.

However, substitute M'Baye Niang then tangled with Luca Antei in the area, allowing Bacca to rifle home from the spot and drag his side back into the game.Milan now had their tails up against the tiring Sassuolo, with Locatelli rifling into the top corner from the edge of the area to level the scores.

There were fine saves at both ends to deny Bonaventura and Politano, but the eventual winner was Paletta's in the 77th minute.Storming onto Niang's cross, the 30-year-old nodded across Consigli into the far corner to claim the points in improbable fashion.

 

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Zidane urges Real Madrid not to 'go crazy' amid barren run

Zinedine Zidane has urged his Real Madrid team not to "go crazy" after slumping a fourth successive draw across all competitions against Eibar on Sunday.Fran Rico's early opener spelled danger for the home side at the Santiago Bernabeu and, although Gareth Bale did equalise soon after, Real never fully recovered and rarely looked like prevailing against their Basque opponents.

The stalemate added to draws against Villarreal and Las Palmas in La Liga and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, but Zidane was keen to add some optimism to the debate, dispelling any suggestions of a "crisis" as nonsense."I am responsible as the coach of this team, I must look for solutions," he said. "We must change this.

"This is not a crisis, we are only in October. We cannot go crazy. "But something is wrong for sure; three draws in a row in La Liga. We will analyse things again and when they come back from the international break we must change. We cannot continue like this"

"We did not play in the first half; Eibar did play. The second half was much better, which is something we've been saying too much recently."I believe in hard work and the quality of this team. If we put in hard enough work then the quality shows."

To make matters worse for Zidane, two key players could be forced into spells out through injury, as Karim Benzema and Raphael Varane were withdrawn at half-time."Both substitutions were because of injury," the Frenchman confirmed. "Karim felt something in his knee and needs to have some tests."For Varane it was just a knock, a strong knock."

 

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Alli: Beating Manchester City is a big statement

Dele Alli hailed Tottenham's "big statement" following their superb 2-0 victory over Manchester City at White Hart Lane.

Sunday's contest pitted the last two unbeaten Premier League teams against one another with City having won each of their six league matches under Pep Guardiola.

But Tottenham were rewarded for a slick and industrious display as a comical own goal from Aleksandar Kolarov and Alli's cool finish saw Mauricio Pochettino's men close to within a point of City at the summit.

"It's massive. I think it's a big statement from us. We knew what we're capable of, we knew we'd have chances if we stuck to our game plan and it took it to them," Alli told Sky Sports."They're a great team and they'll be up there but we showed what we're made of.

"It's massive going into the international break - no one wants to go into that on the back of a loss, it's important we keep going."Team-mate Victor Wanyama was one of a number of Spurs players to excel in front of their home supporters and the midfielder says the team were rewarded for their hard work.

"We knew it was going to be a tough game," he added. "We showed how solid we are and how compact we are. "I'm happy to take three points. We knew we had to work hard, we enjoy working hard, when it comes to games we have to work extra hard. The hard work paid off."

 

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Mourinho: Martial needed his goal

Jose Mourinho hopes Anthony Martial's goal against Stoke City will help to fire the Manchester United forward back towards his best form.

Martial ended a 10-game drought by coming off the bench to score an impressive 69th-minute opener at Old Trafford, but United could not hold on as Joe Allen equalised for the Premier League strugglers eight minutes from time.

The France international has failed to hit the heights under Mourinho thus far, but his manager believes Sunday's breakthrough could mark a turning point."He needs that," said the Portuguese. "Amazing goal, and very good initiative for his confidence, from his personal point of view."

Other United players were not so clinical in front of goal, with Stoke goalkeeper Lee Grant making excellent saves to thwart Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Jesse Lingard, while Paul Pogba spurned a pair of gilt-edged chances before hitting the crossbar in the final minute.

Nevertheless, Mourinho was in no mood to repeat recent criticisms of his players.
"I never criticise my players for missing chances," he said. "Their goalkeeper is the man of the match and obviously deservedly.

"There was the post too, there are chances when we could do better, but I don't criticise my players. There were naive mistakes sometimes. We should not just be with three points, but also with a fat result.Mourinho's Man Utd worse off than Van Gaal's"Today was the best performance [of the season] from the minute one. Everything was beautiful, the first chance was beautiful.

"Paul's chance it was beautiful football. It was frustrating, but the performance was there."Mourinho once again left Wayne Rooney on the bench and was reluctant to discuss the forward's expected retention as England captain by caretaker national boss Gareth Southgate.

"With England he's in the hands of Southgate. I never interfere with that," Mourinho added.

 

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Martial ge goal 1kanam patta

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Pochettino thrilled with 'nearly perfect' Spurs

Mauricio Pochettino labelled Tottenham's performance in the 2-0 win over Manchester City as "nearly perfect" and believes the international break could be a help rather than a hindrance to their momentum.

Spurs put in one of their best performances under the Argentine's stewardship to end City's 100 per cent winning record under Pep Guardiola in the Premier League with an Aleksandar Kolarov own goal and Dele Alli's cool finish doing the damage at White Hart Lane.

The result could have been better for the hosts had Erik Lamela not seen a second-half penalty saved, but Pochettino was still left waxing lyrical over the manner of his side's display."The performance was nearly perfect. To play a great team like Manchester City, you need to do a fantastic job," he said.

"For that, I'm very proud of our players' work. Collectively, we worked very hard, all the players were fantastic on the pitch."It was a real exciting game. Both teams played in an exciting way. We share a similar philosophy. I enjoyed it a lot, the fans enjoyed it a lot, the neutral people enjoyed it too, both teams' mentality was to go forward, play football, and try to win the game.

"We are a team that always wants control. In front was Manchester City, who want the same as us. Then it's a battle on the pitch. For that I feel very pleased, our players showed big commitment to our philosophy."

Spurs have now won five matches in a row in all competitions, but they are not in action again until October 15 due to internationals.However, Pochettino believes the interval will help his squad get back to full health with the likes of Mousa Dembele (hamstring) and Harry Kane (ankle) on the comeback trail. "We're happy we have time to recover players like Dembele and Kane," he added.

"We need all [of our players fit] to compete. We have a lot of games ahead. October and November are tough to compete. We need everybody so now it's good to rest."

 

[Alucard_SxE]

Liivvveeeeeeeeeee!!!!

Celta 3 - 0 Barca!!!!!

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[Wolverine GTR]

Celta 4-3 Barcelona: Luis Enrique downed by old club in seven-goal thriller

Barcelona missed the chance to move top of La Liga as they fell to a damaging 4-3 loss away to Celta Vigo, with goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen enduring a match to forget.

Real Madrid's home draw against Eibar earlier on Sunday had opened the door for the champions to take first place, but they instead endured a miserable evening at Balaidos in a thrilling encounter.Celta have beaten Barca in each of the last two seasons – including a 4-1 home victory last season – and raced into a three-goal half-time lead.

Pione Sisto opened the scoring following a mistake from Ter Stegen, before two goals in the space of 86 seconds – an Iago Aspas strike and an own goal from Jeremy Mathieu – rocked the visitors.

Luis Enrique's side launched a comeback after the break, with Gerard Pique's header and a Neymar penalty setting up a grandstand finish, but Ter Stegen blundered again for Pablo Hernandez's match-clinching header.

Pique did net another header in the final moments, but the hosts held on and Eduardo Berizzo now has three LaLiga victories over his Celta predecessor Luis Enrique – a man no other manager in Spain's top-flight has beaten more than once.And Barca have now lost two of their first seven games to sit fourth in the early season table, two points behind leaders Atletico Madrid and Real.

Barca had the first chance of note when Luis Suarez drilled a low effort straight at Sergio Alvarez, but it was the home team who opened the scoring in the 22nd minute.

Ter Stegen's loose pass to Sergio Busquets led to Aspas' precise throughball finding Sisto – who also scored last week against Espanyol – and he calmly took one touch before converting with a low finish.

After 31 minutes, it was two. A long clearance from Hugo Mallo was not dealt with by Barca's defence and Pique inexplicably gave Aspas all the time he needed to dribble to the edge of the area and drill a left-footed effort into the far corner.

Astonishingly, Celta were celebrating a third goal moments later. More panic in the away backline gave Daniel Wass the chance to send in a cross from the right looking for Aspas, but Mathieu – back in the team as one of four changes – got there first and inadvertently diverted his attempted diving clearance past Ter Stegen and in.

Luis Enrique brought on Andres Iniesta for his 600th club appearance in place of Rafinha at the break and it was his dipping cross from the left which set up Pique's thumping header after 58 minutes, with Alvarez failing in his attempt to get there first.All of a sudden, the momentum was with Barca and within six minutes they had another goal back.

Andre Gomes was bundled to the ground by a combination of Nemanja Radoja and Mallo, with Neymar sending Alvarez the wrong way from the resulting spot-kick for his fourth LaLiga goal of the campaign.Neymar wanted another penalty, but his claim was denied despite protesting that home captain Mallo had tugged him to the ground.

Celta struck again 13 minutes from time when Ter Stegen collected a backpass from Jordi Alba and proceeded to chip an attempted pass straight against the head of Hernandez, who – along with a jubilant home crowd – could not believe his luck as the ball bounced in.

Ter Stegen did make a key save when Aspas had a golden chance to make it five and that allowed Barca to revive hopes of a recovery again when impressive play from substitute Denis Suarez down the right set up another Pique header, this one from close range.The visitors had two decent chances to seal a remarkable draw after that 87th-minute goal as the drama continued right up until the final whistle.

Neymar headed a chance wide from Arda Turan's cross, before Pique almost made it a hat-trick of headers, failing to find the target from another Denis Suarez delivery as a night to remember ended with Celta celebrations.

 

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Roma 2-1 Inter: Dzeko and Manolas move hosts into third

Roma climbed to third in the Serie A table as goals from Edin Dzeko and Kostas Manolas secured a 2-1 victory over Inter at Stadio Olimpico.

Manolas' first goal of the season, via a deflection off Mauro Icardi, was enough to seal all three points for Luciano Spalletti's side, moving them level with Lazio, AC Milan and Chievo on 13 points.The Giallorossi flew out of the blocks on Sunday as Dzeko converted a Bruno Peres cross to claim his fifth goal of the season after just five minutes.

Both sides struck the woodwork during a thrilling first half and Inter could count themselves a touch unfortunate to have suffered what was their first defeat since the opening day of the season.

Ever Banega had levelled for the visitors as they raised their game in the second half, but Manolas' header from Alessandro Florenzi's free-kick ensured all three points for the hosts.

A fourth successive home league win sees Roma climb to within five of leaders Juventus, while Frank de Boer's side head into the international break in ninth place.

Inter had fallen behind in seven of their eight competitive games this season and that trend continued as Roma opened the scoring with just five minutes gone.Mohamed Salah played Peres into the box and the full-back's low cross was neatly clipped home by Dzeko from close range.

The visitors almost produced an instant response as Banega's stunning 20-yard strike crashed back off Wojciech Szczesny's right-hand post.Salah was providing Roma's main threat and, after setting up Peres for a chance, he twice went close to doubling the hosts' lead within a minute.

After being sent clean through by Dzeko, the Egypt international struck the outside of the post and then saw an angled shot parried by Samir Handanovic who was also equal to Florenzi's follow-up effort.

Inter, meanwhile, created several decent openings themselves, notably when Antonio Candreva wasted a great opportunity on 32 minutes by slicing his volley wide after an Ivan Perisic cross had found him unmarked at the far post.

In a frenetic end to a pulsating first half, Florenzi and Dzeko both found themselves in one-on-one situations with Handanovic but failed to score, while Candreva and Miranda came close to equalising for the visitors.

The first meaningful action of the second half saw Diego Perotti's fierce drive kept out by the impressive Handanovic before Kevin Strootman headed a Salah cross over the bar.

Perisic then flashed a 25-yard free-kick narrowly wide for Inter and moments later Assane Gnoukouri blazed over when well placed, but Banega finally claimed the equaliser that his side's second-half performance deserved.Icardi's clever pass caught the Roma defence flat-footed and Banega calmly slotted home his first goal of the season.

Within four minutes, however, Inter bagged what proved to be the winner as Florenzi's delivered a flat free-kick into the box and Manolas' header seemed to take a deflection off Icardi on its way into the net.

Inter continued to push for an equaliser but their seven-year wait for a league win in Roma continues, with Handanovic keeping it to 2-1 with a superb late save to deny Dzeko.

 

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Courtois: I'm happy at Chelsea for now

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois insists he is happy at Stamford Bridge, despite reiterating his intention to one day return to Spain.

The Belgium international won La Liga with Atletico Madrid in 2014 and has been linked with a switch to their city rivals Real Madrid this season.

Having previously admitted an interest in moving back to Spain, Courtois was keen to clarify that he remains committed to Chelsea and may not leave until after his retirement."I understand the commotion with the Chelsea fans," he said in quotes reported by the Mirror.

"But I just meant that I want to return to Spain one day, but it can also be after my career."I'm happy to be at Chelsea. For how long, we will see. But now I want to win prizes with this club."

Courtois joined Chelsea from Genk in 2011, but did not make his debut for the club until three years later due to an extended loan spell with Atletico.

 

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'Don't take the England job, Arsene!' - Arsenal legend Wright begs Wenger to stay

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has pleaded with long-serving manager Arsene Wenger to ignore reported overtures from England due to how much pressure he would be under.Wenger achieved a landmark 20 years in the Arsenal job this weekend and marked the anniversary with a dramatic, late 1-0 victory at Burnley on Sunday.

Sam Allardyce's acrimonious departure from the Three Lions job this week has triggered widespread rumours that Wenger, who called England a “paradise for football” this week, could be approached for the vacancy.

But Wright, who played under Wenger for the Frenchman's first two years at Highbury, believes his former coach would get too much criticism from expectant England supporters for him to enjoy it."[I'd tell Arsene] don't do the England job, because it's too much pressure," Wright, who is now a television pundit, told BBC Sport on Sunday. "He's going to get so much stick.

"You see the amount of stick he getting from Arsenal [fans] when he's trying to do his stuff. I wouldn't like to see him go through [these] 20 years, and then the last 10 years it's been [like this] for him.

"And then go to England and it not quite work out and you get that kind of stick as well… That's a selfish reason, personally."

Wenger's Arsenal are placed third in the table heading into the international break, two points adrift of Manchester City at the summit and one point behind Tottenham in second.

 

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Iniesta frustrated as Barcelona miss chance to go top

Andres Iniesta was frustrated to see Barcelona miss out on the chance to move top of La Liga, but felt Celta Vigo were the better team in their dramatic 4-3 victory at Balaidos.

A thrilling encounter on Sunday saw Barca fall three goals behind in the first half at a venue where they were also beaten last season in what was a 4-1 reverse.

The champions battled hard in the second half but Pablo Hernandez's goal after a mistake from goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who kicked the ball against him in a failed passing attempt, proved decisive despite Gerard Pique's double and a Neymar penalty.

On a day that saw title rivals Real Madrid draw at home to Eibar, Iniesta – who came on at half-time to make his 600th Barca appearance – was disappointed to sit fourth, rather than first, at the international break following the loss.Barca's capitulation worst in nine years

"We have tried to give everything, but it was not to be – it is a shame as it was an opportunity to go to the top and it has not been possible to do that," the midfielder said to Movistar."Celta got the better of us, that is evident and that was the sensation on the pitch. It is shown in the scoreline.

"In the second half we tried, we knew that if we got a goal we were back in the game. We got the goal, and a second, but when you have such a negative scoreline it is not easy to turn things around."Sometimes there are situations when you are not right, when the rival gets the better of you.

"Celta are good, they know how to play and the penalised us a lot in the first half. In the second half, with everything lost, we have gone on the attack, but it wasn't enough."

The decision to start Iniesta on the substitutes' bench was one of four changes made by head coach Luis Enrique, but he was diplomatic about that decision and the critical error by Ter Stegen, who had also blundered for Celta's first goal.He added: "The manager picks the team, those that play and I don't have anything to say.

"The goals like that are situations which happen. A mistake is definitive in the position of a goalkeeper, he was playing in our way."

 

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Luis Enrique defends calamitous Ter Stegen after Barcelona defeat

Luis Enrique has sought to take responsibility for Barcelona's 4-3 loss at Celta Vigo on Sunday following an error-strewn display from goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

The German's individual mistakes had a major influence on the outcome as the champions suffered their second defeat in seven La Liga matches so far this season.

But former Celta coach Luis Enrique attempted to shift the blame away from the 24-year-old shot-stopper following a result that left Barca fourth, two points behind leaders Atletico Madrid going into the international break.

"The defeat is for everyone," he told Barca TV. "First for me, myself, I am the one responsible for the team. Now we have to pick ourselves up."It was an important day for us as we had the chance to go top and we did not take advantage of it.

"We started the game well and in the first 15 minutes I was pleased, but from then on we entered a negative dynamic and began to lose individual duels in which they got the better of us.

"The players are not machines, we must pick ourselves up and compete in the next game."Luis Enrique also defended his decision to name Andres Iniesta among the substitutes at Estadio de Balaidos.

"Do not [ask] the easy question now," he was quoted as saying by Canal+."I have to decide before the game, not after. I do not regret anything. I accept it as part of my job."

Pressed on the impact of Ter Stegen's mistakes, he added: "Another easy question. Barcelona's goalkeepers always have to [take] risks. Today all the team has lost. There is much to improve."Barca are back in action at home to Deportivo La Coruna on October 15.

 

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Rashford and Glen Johnson recalled as Southgate names England squad

Gareth Southgate has named his first squad as caretaker England manager with Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford and Stoke City defender Glen Johnson handed recalls to the senior side.

The Three Lions face World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Slovenia in October with the national team having endured a turbulent week following the departure of Sam Allardyce after just 67 days and one game in the job.

Southgate, who has agreed to take charge of the next four games, has named a 23-man squad with Malta the visitors to Wembley on Saturday with England facing Slovenia in Ljubljana on 11 October.Rashford returns to the squad after featuring for the Under-21s last time out, scoring a hat-trick on his debut, in a 6-1 win over Norway in September.

Also back in the squad is Johnson, for the first time since World Cup 2014 while uncapped Jesse Lingard and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are also called-up.

"We've tried to keep some continuity from last month because my view would be that there are a lot of things that have been going right," Southgate told the FA's official website.

"We've had a few people unavailable through injury like Harry Kane and Jack Butland and we've lost a couple over the weekend in Danny Drinkwater, Adam Lallana and Nathaniel Clyne, while Luke Shaw isn't quite back fit yet. That's had a bearing on the squad.

"There are obviously a couple of players that I've worked with in the Under-21s with Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard, who we think are exciting young players who we wanted to put in this squad."It's obviously been a difficult week in a number of ways, however we are in a position now where it's important to get the squad named.

"I'm looking forward now to working with the players because it's important that we build on the performance and the result against Slovakia."

Squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Torino, loan from Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley)

Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Stoke City), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Michail Antonio (West Ham United), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur)

Strikers: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)

 

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OFFICIAL: Swansea sack Guidolin and appoint Bradley

Swansea City have sacked manager Francesco Guidolin on the day of his 61st birthday and replaced him with former United States national team boss Bob Bradley.

Cazorla and David Luiz star in Goal's Premier League Team of the Week
Guidolin had only been in charge of the Welsh side since January and has been removed from his position after picking up just four points in the first seven games of this season's Premier League, making him the first top-flight casualty of the campaign.The Italian's last game in charge was Saturday's 2-1 home defeat against Liverpool, where he saw Swansea lose a first-half lead.

Bradley, 58, leaves his role with Ligue 2 club Le Havre to take charge of Swansea, with his first game being a trip to play Arsenal on October 15 after the international break.

He has previously managed Stabaek in Norway's top-flight and had a two-year spell in charge of Egypt's national team, but is best known for his five years in charge of USA between 2006 and 2011, where he led the country to the 2010 World Cup and reached the last 16.

Le Havre, who have appointed Oswald Tanchot to replace Bradley, thanked the American after confirming his departure and revealed they had been planning for his exit.

"Swansea City can confirm that the club has parted company with manager Francesco Guidolin," read Swansea's statement."He will be replaced by former USA national team manager Bob Bradley with the club having agreed his release from French club Le Havre after their fixture with Sochaux tonight."

Chairman Huw Jenkins said Guidolin had paid the price for recent results after helping to keep Swansea up in the second half of last season, despite missing some time through illness.

"We are obviously disappointed to part company with Francesco," he said."We felt he deserved his opportunity after the work he did last season.Unfortunately we have not been able to carry performances over from last season and we felt we needed to change things as soon as possible in order to move forward in a positive way."We would like to thank Francesco and his staff for their services to the club and wish them well for the future.

"We are delighted Bob has agreed to join us. He is highly regarded as a coach and has a wealth of experience on the international and domestic front."He is well aware of the club's footballing philosophy and will provide us with strong leadership qualities and a renewed belief to compete at this level.

"It is never easy changing managers, but we are looking at a long-term appointment and we are confident Bob can settle us down and stabilise matters on and off the pitch."